e-Library Science Research Journal ISSN : 2319-8435 Vol.2 | Issue.12 | Oct. 2014 Impact Factor : 2.1703(UIF)

USE OF TWITTER IN LIBRARIES: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Abhijit Chakrabarti

Library Professional.

Abstract:-The paper discusses the role of Twitter in Libraries, its advantages and disadvantages and applications in libraries. The paper also discusses how the twitter can be exploited for the use of library.

Keywords:Twitter, library, social networking, Reference service.

INTRODUCTION Twitter is a free social networking which enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. It is a communication tool also. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author’s profile page and delivered to the author’s subscribers who are known as followers. Now users can follow lists of authors instead of following individual authors. All users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. Since its inception in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Twitter has gained popularity worldwide. It is called as “SMS of the internet”1. Registered users can read and post tweets, but unregistered users can only read them. Users access Twitter through the website interface, SMS, or mobile device. The use of Twitter’s application programming interface for sending and receiving text messages by other applications often eclipses direct use of Twitter. Like many Web 2.0 tools, Librarians prefer to use Twitter. Users can tweet via the Twitter website, compatible external applications (such as for smart phones), or by Short Message Service (SMS) available in certain countries. Retweeting is also possible when a tweet is forwarded via Twitter by users. Twitter allows users to update their profile via their mobile phones either by text messaging or by apps released for certain smart phones and tablets. The mobile version of Twitter is mobile.twitter.com. Twitter has mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Firefox OS, and Nokia S40.There is also version of the website for mobile devices, SMS and MMS service. An increasing number of libraries and librarians are now using Twitter to engage readers, spread information, and change the conception of dark, silent buildings full of documents.

HISTORY OF TWITTER:- Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone and Noah Glass and by July 2006 the site was launched. The service rapidly gained worldwide popularity. In 2013 Twitter has become internationally identifiable by its signature bird logo. The original logo was in use from its inception in March 2006 until September 2010. According to Douglas Bowman, designer of Twitter, the new logo is like a Mountain Bluebird. Twitter is the fastest growing website in the member community’s category from February 2009 as its members are seven million more or less2.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF TWITTER: Advantages: ŸTwitter is easy to use. It allows users to update their profile via their mobile phone through text messaging and apps released for certain smart phones and tablets.

Abhijit Chakrabarti, “USE OF TWITTER IN LIBRARIES: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW”, e-Library Science Research Journal | Volume 2 | Issue 12 | Oct 2014 | Online & Print

1 .USE OF TWITTER IN LIBRARIES: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

ŸIn registration, it will only take a user less than a minute to join, and no confirmation email is needed. As a result users prefer it than other social networking site. ŸUser can create as many accounts as he wants in Twitter. ŸMessage boards or “tweets” itself can be viewable in public. As a result the message is easily conveyed to others and the persons or users concerned to it can view the message easily. ŸTwittering is being able to keep up to date with relevant events as and when they occur. ŸTwitter is used to survey any target audience; or even to get answers to specific questions. ŸTwitter can be used to elicit ideas and suggestions. ŸTwitter is a superb networking platform and offers a great way of getting to know, and build relationship with new people. ŸTwitter can be used for disseminating new information quickly. Twitter embeds most multimedia in tweet so links to YouTube, slideshare, Twitpic will enable any objects visible in tweet. ŸThe use of twitter costs nothing to use except phone service provider fees. So it is economical as well as affordable.

DISADVANTAGES: ŸTwitter has no applications rather than other sites like Facebook, Friendster and MySpace. ŸIt also has no groups, videos, blogs, classified ads, forums, marketplace and other unique and popular social networking menus. ŸUser can only upload one picture. ŸUsers cannot upload music files here on Twitter.

USE OF TWITTER IN LIBRARIES: At present number of libraries and librarians are now taking the help of twitter to engage readers to spread information. Here are many tips that can help library professionals to use twitter in their libraries: v A library could share all kinds of news that users want through the use of twitter. vShort messages can tell people about events such as readings, lectures, and book sales; newly available resources; or changes in the reading hours. vTwitter posts can link to interesting news stories about libraries. vFrom the Twitter home page, users go to settings, then apps—as a result users may have many applications and may have access to his or her account. vTwitter accounts don’t get hacked so it is beneficial for library. vLibrarians have to put his /her username on slide decks and leaflets and handouts, and embed his/her tweet-stream on the library homepage to make library users aware of the activity of the library. Librarian can use these tips to create communication as well as a feeling of community at his /her library. vLibrarians can highlight new materials, group meetings, current news, and more with some of these suggestions through Twitter. vColleagues, students, and Friends may be connected with other Librarian, friends, and students because of Twitter. vMore and more library vendors are joining by using Twitter. As a result of which librarians are being informed about the vendors to procure the resources of library. It should be noted that some major vendors have hopped on board the Twitter wagon. Examples of some vendors3: vEbsco Publishing –a search platform for full text online research database used by libraries all over the world, vMcGraw-Hill—an information and media group to enable libraries to make better decisions, vThomson Reuters –a platform to get solutions for any library focusing on productivity, vJSTOR –This vendor works for research, etc. vTwitter feeds will allow user to keep up with registration deadlines, speakers and accommodations without having to visit the site itself all the time regarding conferences, seminars. vMany major news sites, like CNN and the BBC have Twitter feeds. This makes it easy to just

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quickly check to keep up with news and find the latest information, a particularly relevant application for libraries. vTwitter makes it easier to find out what other schools and libraries are doing around the world. A word, phrase or topic that is tagged at a greater rate than other tags is said to be a "trending topic". Trending topics become popular either through a concerted effort by users, or because of an event that prompts people to talk about a specific topic. These topics help Twitter and their users to understand what is happening in the other libraries of the world. There are some helpful feeds that can find out how other libraries might be using Twitter. As for example, @AccessMyLibrary3 for advocating to increase discoverability of library content on the web, @AtYourLibrary to make people aware of the value of the libraries, @geeklibrarian for helping public librarians venture into the world of web 2.0, @glambert for law librarian, @GlobalLib for sharing global and international library information for librarians around the world, @heyjudeonline for learning about library and information services. @kenleyneufield for learning about the social web from this community college librarian, @Librarian for giving user a look at libraries in a unique way, @librarycongress for keeping up with everything from their special collections to latest events, @LibraryJournal for offering library news, books, and more than that, @pfanderson for the librarian who are interested in informatics, search engine, web 2.0 and more, @sljournal for news and book reviews for children’s and young adult material, @TheLibraryCat for learning about academic libraries and, photography,and searching through archives @yalsa for keeping user informed about issues pertaining to young adult reading literature, @LJBookReview for book news and book reviews, @alalibraryval for library reference specialist at American Library Association, @ala rusa3 for the reference and user services association of American Library Association, @Internet_Archive for historical collections in digital format, Library users may write comments for authors, artists and writers he/she likes or not if they have twitter accounts. v Librarians and library user may use Twitter as a Notepad. Librarians and Library users note down great ideas from anywhere through his/her twitter account. vLibrarians may share a tip on finding or accessing information online or in the building to spread knowledge of one’s learning with others. vTwitter is also accessible via mobile device, making it easy to transfer and share comments or information. vUses of hash tags in Twitter allow users to find related tweets on a topic. For this they don’t need to know anyone’s Twitter username to find anyone’s tweets. vWith many online tools, the reference sections of many libraries have been overlooked through the use of twitter. It can help make connections with users which can lead to a more visited reference section. As for example, vCredo Reference—a leading reference service provider for libraries and information centres. vLexis-Nexis Academics –to provide research and reference answers to libraries worldwide. vThrough the use of twitpic , librarian make the photos of the staff and the library available to others vUser can use search easily and may customize the searches through the use of Twitgrid tool. vLibrarian can use Twitter as an assessment tool. By tweeting he/she can learn about such things as what services are being used the most in the library. vTwitter is a unique way to find others that have had similar problem and get prompt response. vUsers can ask questions about specific materials. This will also keep up the community feeling that any library is looking for. vTwitter can be used as a way to provide assistance to users to get a quick response to question. vTwitter can be used to find trend. vAlthough the conversational Twittering has not yet been main stream among the librarian but it is common for other institutions on the service to interact followers.

e-Library Science Research Journal | Volume 2 | Issue 12 | Oct 2014 3 .USE OF TWITTER IN LIBRARIES: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW vUsing Twitter site librarian can send messages to inform people about events such as readings and lectures. vTwitter can be used to send computer alerts. vIt may be used to send alerts about requested materials. Users are being informed that the documents they needed have arrived for them. vUsing both Twitter search and the find people function on the main twitter site users will know about the institutions and individuals. vThrough tweet librarian may get information regarding the conversations that are happening about the library. vTwitterFone—a tool used to call and leave a voice message which will later be turned into tweet. vTweet Later—a tool to write tweets that a librarian can schedule to posting at later dates. This is a great way to line up reminders that are tied to specific dates.

LIMITATIONS:- Twitter is an interactive, conversational medium—but sometimes it’s hard for organizations not to use it as a broadcast medium. In an ideal world it is potentially useful to his/her followers but not necessarily directly related to any library. Some picture services, like YFrog or Instagram, don’t display user’s pictures through twitter. So library users and librarians are aware of its limitations.

CONCLUSION:- The use of online social networking by LIS professionals has been alarmingly increased. It is a fast growing tool that is utilized to communicate with more potential library user. It is an extension service of libraries. Twitter can be a dynamic way to connect with users, students and other library professionals. It also satisfies the fourth law of Library Science—save the time of the user as well as staff. So libraries have only started to find the true potential in Twittering. Therefore by using the social networking, librarians and libraries may broaden the services for themselves and their users.

REFERENCES: 1.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter as on 12.09.2014. 2.www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/07419051011095863 as on 20.09.2014. 3.acceleratedbachelordegree.org/100-ways-to-use-twitter-in-your-library/ as on 18.09.2014.

Abhijit Chakrabarti Library Professional.

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